They say that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but does that hold true when it comes to the exterior of your home? Sometimes, no matter how beautiful, welcoming and thoughtfully decorated the inside of the place we live, it still gives a bad first impression due to a tired, dated or just plain ugly outside. Or you may have bought a fixer-upper and been concentrating on the inside. In fact, upgrading the outside of your home can really have a transformative effect, making a ‘just okay’ house into a talking point – and if you come to sell it, that elusive kerb appeal will increase the likelihood of offers and drive the bidding higher. It’s surprisingly easy to facelift the front of your house, and there are lots of things you can do to make it look a whole lot prettier…
Changing The Proportions
The most significant, dramatic and costly end of the scale, you can opt for a renovation project that combines an exterior revamp with changing the proportions of the building – extending upwards or out to achieve a better balance, a more symmetrical finish or redesign ugly additions to the building. This can transform your space inside and out and really make your home new. Smaller extensions may not need planning permission, especially if they are located at the rear of the building. Go for a sympathetic design which matches and updates the original design, or you may want to go for a sharp contrast instead, especially on a character property.
Switch Up Your Exterior Finish
Sometimes the original material of a house is just ugly – stone cladding, pebble dash, cracked and discoloured render, mismatched bricks or a mish-mash of different materials – the list of design sins can be endless. However, it’s easier than you may think to update this, and makes a huge difference to the look of your home. You can reclad the exterior and in some cases simply painting the masonry and woodwork is enough to unify the look of mixed materials and can make a home look brand new for a low cost. You could choose rendering if you have damaged brickwork or go for slatted wooden cladding instead, or one of the many hardwearing composite materials which are now freely available. Consider having the window frames, guttering and fascias done at the same time, as small touches such as new vinyl siding can go a long way to making your home look brand new.
Choose A New Front Door
Whether you decide to replace your front door, or refurbish your old one with a coat of paint and some new hardware, the entry to your home can have a huge impact. In fact, if you live in a newer estate where all the houses are very similar, a unique door can be a lovely way of distinguishing your home. For older properties, reclamation yards can often provide an amazing source of original features for you to choose from, or you could always commission a joiner to make something unique which really stands out.
One thought on “Does your home need a facelift?”